HomeMade Halloween Costume Help

[dzneelvr]

I'd like to get this annual thread going while there's still time. My goal this year is Harry Potter/first year student costume for my 8 y/o nephew. I have the Gryffindor patch, the white owl, and am pretty sure i can get the tie from a resale shop. My question is the red-lined cape: I've seen it for $20+ online, but could sew it cheaper. Does Joann Fabrics have the pattern?

 

[gillenkl]

I used the disney fun website this year for our costume ideas - maybe you can check on there for a similiar cape idea?
http://familyfun.go.com/halloween/halloween-kids-costumes/

 

[Swimalie]

If they don't have the pattern, make it up. I did this with Anakin's robe last year. This year I'm taking a shirt and making it in to a jacket for Ben 10.

 

[elcodfish]

harry potter robe: ask friends for a black graduation robe and just hem it and line it.

 

[luckey-lasvegas]

I'm not sure if you have a Savers there but they usually have a ton of graduation robes for halloween. I would check the thrift stores first.

 

[dzneelvr]

Good Adviceour local Goodwill store has $1 clothing day tomorrow and I'll be in search of something to convert to a robe.

 

[NotUrsula]

BTDT -- trust me, you will not be able to make a lined robe for under $20, even if you make the entire thing out of drapery lining. Your time is worth something, too. Buy the robe and make/alter the other pieces. (The robe I bought did not have a red lining, but no one noticed, and an unlined robe works nicely if a younger child later wants to belong to a different "house" - just switch the patch.)

The two most challenging parts of the costume were the sweater and the necktie because of the pesky gold/burgundy stripe combo; it is impossible to find. My solution to both was fabric paint. I purchased burgundy and gold fabric paints and painted a narrow gold stripe down the middle of burgundy grosgrain ribbon for the stripes on the sweater, and also painted burgundy stripes onto a plain gold nectie.

The grey sweater and grey pants came from a thrift store, the glasses came from a dollar store (they were originally red sunglasses but I knocked out the lenses and spray-painted them black). He already had the white dress shirt, and dark socks and shoes. The wand was a fancy chopstick picked up at a Chinese market. We didn't bother with an owl.